Button-sewing machine.



E. F. BURKE.

BUTTON SEWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION IILBD AUG.24,1912.

4 m a um We Am 7 wk n; fi i mm B a W P d n 7 ,w M -41 7 a w 0 6 l 2/ 6 a, 1 a 2 IHE NORRIS PErL'R:1:0.PHD70117H0.WASNINLHW. D C

E. P. BURKE. BUTTON SEWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 24, 1912.

Patented Dec. 8, 1914.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

| II] A A m 6 u f IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII/IIIIfill 09 #6" III 20 Mia/mew HE. NORRIS PETERS 60.. FHGTO LITHD.. WASHINGTON. D. C

E. F. BURKE.

BUTTON SEWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 24, 1912.

1,120,274. Patented Dec. 8,1914.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

E. F. BURKE.

BUTTON SEWING MACHINE.

APPLICATION IILBD AUG. 24, 1912. 1,120,274.

Patented Dec. 8, 1914.

v 4 SHEETS-8HEBT 4. 10d 2 0 7? 7- 1/1 I attomeq or 1 LED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD F. BURKE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T LOUIS BLACK, OE PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

BUTTON-SEWING MACHINE.

1 Patented Dec. 8, 1914:.

Application filed August 24, 1912. Serial No. 716,796.

' citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts as will be more fully hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

is a view in side elevation with the side plate removed illustrating'my improved mechan sm contalned within the casing. Fig. 2 is a view in elevatlon of the opposite side of my bar is provided with an opening 14 through which the thread is passed. This thread 15 is also projected through the eye of needle 12, and is fed to the needle bar by and State of Pennsylvania, have invented improved button sewingmachine. Fig.3isa certain new and useful Improvements in view in yertical section on the line 33 0f Button-Sewing Machines, of which the fol- Fig. 1. :Fig. 415 a view in horizontal section lowing is a specification. on the line of Fig. 1. "Fig. 5 is a view My invention relates to improvements in in elevation. Fig. 6 is'aview in rear eleva- 3 button sewing machines, an object of the intion. Fig. 7 is a view 'inhorizontal section 5 wention being to provide an improved cononthe line 77 of Fig.1. Fig. 8 isa fragstruction of oscillator in combination with a mentar view in vertical section on the line rotary looper located within the oscillator 8'8 '0 Fig. 7: Fig. 9'is a fragmentary and between which and the button, an imview in vertical section on the line 9-9 of 15 proved thread breaking arm is adapted to be v Fig'fifZ wi thlp'arts o'f the mechanism removed moved. l I i .Qfor clearnes's' in' illfis trating other parts.

A further object is to provide "an i mj,Fig{'1Qisfa;front end viejw'of the oscillating proved arrangement of button holding jaws, fcyli'rider," looper, and thread breaker with in combination with an improved cylindrithe cover 'disk remo'ved. Fig. 11 is a view of 73 cal oscillator, and a rotary looper within the the real-face of disk 83 showing the cam 75 oscillator together with an improved thread groove therein. Fig. 12 is a perspective breaking arm which is movable through the View of the rotary looper, and Fig. 13 is a oscillator and against the thread as the view in elevation 'ona reduced, scale showbutton holding jaws are elevated to maining the removable plate 6 forming one side 25 tain the thread taut, so that it is easily of the casing. broken. 1, represents asupport to which the eas- A further object is to provide a button ing 2 of my improved button sewing masewing machine with improved mechanism chine is secured. The preferable means of for controlling the number of stitches which securing the casing is to project a bolt 3 automatically stops the machine after a prethrough registering openings in support 1, 5 determined number of stitches have been and the base 4 of the casing, and secured by made through-the button, said means capameans of a nut 5 in the casing screwed onto ble of being varied by the substitution of the bolt against the base 4. This nut 5 is one worm wheel for another or the re-arinclosed within the casing when a removable 33 rangement of 'fingers on the worm wheel, plate 6 is secured therein. This plate 6 is so that any desired number of stitches may provided with dowels 7 to fit in correspondbe had. ing sockets 7 in base 4:, and is provided at A further object is to provide a button its upper end with a lock 8 adapted to prosewing machine with improved threadbreakject its locking bolt into a recess 9 in the =23 ing means which leaves through the needle, top of the casing, so that the mechanism ina length of thread suflicient to insure the closed within the casin will be securely proper operation of sewing the next button. locked and protected from unauthorized A further object is to provide a button persons. sewing machine which will occupy but small The casing is of angular formation, its

95 space, which will be strong and durable in upper portion at the front extending outconstruction, and which will most efliciently wardly forming a rectangular overhang 10 perform the functions for which it is inthrough which the needle bar 11 is mounted tended. to reciprocate. A needle 12 is secured in the lVith these and other objects in view, the lower end of the needle bar by means of a 0 invention consists in certain novel features screw 13, and the upper end of the needle 55 In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 means of a friction pulley 16, the supply 2 1 a a 1 r spool of the thread being supported in any approved manner (not shown).

The needle 12,-is adapted 'to reciprocate between button holding jaws 17, and

face of my improved cylindrical oscillator E19. 'The cylindrical oscillator 19 is support ed upon a tubular journal20 having a flanged end 21 fixed'to the front 'face'of 1 casing;2 by means of screws 22. Journal 20 is appreciablyshorter than the cylindrical f oscillatorso a chamber, .forn 1e d in the outer end of the oscillator in which my "improved rotary looper 23 is adapted to I revolve. This looper is inclosed within its a.

chamber by means of a hingeddisk24 on the end of the oscillator, and is pi'ovide dfwith anangularx'slianli 25 which is projected into I an angular opening 26in the .end of the main drive -shaft 27.. This shaft 2;? is lposi- '*tioned horizontally and, extends tliroiigh the I tubular] journal 20 and through an ppening f 28 in the rear end glf thecasiiig seeping w lla-5 i, 1. shaft .27 .andfco'ntrols the longitud nal mo e- "f minar. e 3. .5 es e J r m s a d a h 9. 2 99 s we 7 any suitable source of power s shifted from screw and bears against the arm exerting a downward pressure upon the same. The

free end of this arm extends through a slot 38 in the rear end wall of easing 2, and I to this arm outside of the casing, the belt shifter 33 is secured. On the extremeend of the arm 35, a finger 39 is formed. .Thls

elevated above the periphery of a crank disk 40. This crank disk 40 preferably forms an integral part of the fast pulley 30, but is larger in diameter and its outer surface is cam shaped with a recess 41 therein, one wall of which constitutes a shoulder 42. In this wall or shoulder 42, a recess is provided for the reception of a coiled spring 43. This spring 43 constitutes a buffer and is adapted to engage the finger 39 when the arm 35 1s in its lowest position. In other words, the arm 35 is normally elevated permitting the disk, to freely revolve. At a pre-determined time, as will be hereinafter explained this arm is permitted to fall so that the cushioned by means of the spring 43. v The arm 35 is held in its elevated position 53 by means of a trip 44. This trip 44 1s fulthrough a transverse slot 18' -"in the upper se, ur'ed goiiithe one pulley to'the,otherbvmeans' oraflbu upon a screw 36v secured in-the casingwall, and a spring 37 is positioned around the finger extends downwardly and is normally fin 'er' 39 will lie in the path of shoulder 42 to st op the mechanism, and the force of contact is crumed between its ends on a screw 45 screwed into the end wall of easing 2, and is provided with a spring 46 which tends to move its lower hooked end 46 under arm .35'.- 'The arm 35 is elevated to this position by means of a lever 47 fulcrumed between itsends-on a bracket 48 on the bottom' of support 1. This lever 47 may be made of heavy wire and connected at one end by a screw 49 with an upright plunger 50. This plimger 50 is guided in the casing and as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 9, is located in position to elevate the arm when mover upwardly. The other end of lever 47 is connected by a link 51 with any suitable oper'ating means (not shown). Suclroperating means usually consists of a treadle. but may ofcourse be varied.

The trip 4-4 is moved by fingers 52 on thr outer face of a worm wheel 53. 'ihis worm wheel 53 is journaled on a screw 54 secured in an enlargement 55 on the inner face ,of the casing,' and-'these fingers 52 are movablethrough a 'path which brings them in contactwith a'beveled lug 56 on the upper end of the trip. The number of these finger -52 may be varied'in accordance with f'ftlie number of stitchesto be given each butiton, as it is tojbe understood that each finger operates the trip. In the construction shown, the trip will be operated three times :during each complete revolution of the worm wheel. The worm wheel 53 is driven by a worm 57 fixed to a vertical shaft 58 mounted in bearings 59 and 60 in the casing. This shaft 58 is provided on its lower end with a beveled gear (31 which meshes with a beveled gear (32 on drive shaft 27, so that direct power is transmitted from shaft 27 to shaft 58.

In the upper portion of easing 2, a horizontally positioned rocker shaft 63 is mount ed and this rocker shaft is provided with a rocker arm 34. which is adjustably connect- 'ed by a rod 65 with a clamp 66 on needle bar 11. Motion is transmitted to this rocker shaft 03 by means of the crank disk 40, said ,crank disk 40 having a crank pin or screw 67. which is connected by a link 68 with an arm 69 on rocker shaft 63, whereby a rotary motion of crank disk 40 imparts a rocking or oscillating I movement to the rocker shaft 63.

To one side of the cylindrical oscillator 19, an arm 70 is fixed and projects through a curved slot 71 in the front end of easing 2. This arm 70 at its inner end is pivotally 'connected by a screw 72 with the lower end of a link 73 located outside of the casing. The upper end of this link is connected by a bolt 74 and a wing nut 75 with an oscillating arm 76. .This arm 76 has a channel therein formed by inwardly projecting flanges 77 so that a guide is provided for the head of bolt 74, and a washer 78 is preferably interposed between the nut 7 and the flanges 77. This *armx76} as abovestated;is -aaiiv oscillating arm, and at one, end is pivotally 'c'onneeted 1' 76 is provi'd d -on itsanner facewith a pin-80 which projects-'through-a slot 81in ca'sing2, and-'is'mounted in a cam groove 82 back of a large beveled-gear-S mounted in- 5'10 side of 'the' casingupon a-screw; 85 screwed *into' th'e wall of the casingand constituting Zia fixed journal. uponwhich the gear 84 relvolves. -This gear 8 l-meshes ;with abeveled pinion '86 secured to shaft 58, so that the $1215 rotary movement of gear 84 311161- disk 83 int,

parts an oseillating movementto the eyli'n drical'oscillato1 19." l

- I The button-gripping -jawsl'c aboveg-referred to are of bow'edform, and sit-their E4 inner ends a'repivota'lly connected to the lower fa'ce'of -'a' bar 87 by means of" screws 8 8.] These-jaws are connected by twopivoted links 89, and the center pivot 90 com'1'eet-.

ing the links 89 is'secured;to aplunger tll.

=- .This lunger 91 extends inte'a rscesseain bar 84, and a coiled spring 93-in' said i'eee'ss exerts outward-pressure on th e plu'liger fiendingtojdraw thajaws 1 7 retina each other.

f f The inward movement 0'15 thefiaws-may be EF-LgOhdjllStGCP byiset sere'ws 9 1' which are"pro- "of bar 87 and mites stops to limit'the' pivotal movement ofjth'e jaws *by; inea'n'sof the spring. The opposite faces of said jaws, at

their free ends, are grooved as shown at "96 to receive the buttonillustrated in dotted lines in Fig 'l, said button being-of the'two 7 hole type.

The bar 87 is pivotally supported'near its inner end on a pin 97 which extends'through f perforated ears 98 on the upperface of cylinder 19. The 'shorterendof this bar 87 1 projects throughja-slot 99*in the front wall J of the casing, and'on itsinner end is provided with'ahooklOO which'is connectedby a coiled spring101 witha screw 1025seci1red "inside thecasing. The shorter end of this bar 87;is adapted to heengagedby an arm 150 103 fixed'to a 11361 10 1." This rod 101'iS' Sl P- ported to slide vertically in bearings 105 on 'the 'side wall-of casing'2, and is connected by a link 106 with suitable treadle mech- "anism (not shown);

"verted U-shape as'indic'ated at 107, and at its free end extends through an opening 108 in the top of 'the casing 2. A coiledspring 109, located around rod 104: and between the 3160 upper bearing 105 and a collar 110 on the 1 rod, exerts upward pressure on the rod to normally hold it in the elevated position indicated. The. inverted ,U-shaped upper r end 107 "of this rod 104 extends across the thread 15, 'so that whenthe rod is drawn The upper end of the rod1104 is bent in inpulley 16 for-a purpose which {will herein- "af ter1=appear.

;A '"re'latively short arm 111 is fixed to the ,rod 10%4and-when said rod is moved downwardly, this aim 111 is adapted to strike a crank arm 112 on ashaft 113 of a thread severing device :which is supported in a block 11 1 secured to the under face of cylinder-19. The thread severing device comprises the shaft 113, crank arm 112, and a *h'ojok5 shaped thread breaker proper 115 which is preferably formed by bending-the Fend of the shaft 113 and which is movable through slots 116 in cylinder 19. Thefree end of this thread breaker is provided with ia gro'ove-llfi which is adapted'to receive and hold the thread when the thread breaker is moved across the path of the needle between thlis ame andthe looper '23. The thread jb'reak'er-is normally held in the position indi- ;c'a"ted l')y meansof a'spring 121 which-is seifcifred to'fia scmw 122*on -one side of I block 1 14-,'-the free endbf; said spring engag ng the 1 -11 2 ai1d-' exei'ting{upward pressure therejon: loop'e'r} 23 as -seen' most -I clearly in -*Ffg.'" 1'2 is provided witl1 ahooked end 118 ,"and a c a iii endllt), which are located at an finglefofi approximately 135. At the juncture'of t-he hooked end 118 and the cam end *1119; an op'ening 120 is providedthrough which theneedle 12'recip1'ocates. "f The eperation' is as follows: Assuming a button to 'be'in position between the jaws 17 "and-the goodsjupon' which the button is to belsewed "located under the jaws 17 and on topoffthe cylindrical oscillator 19, the operator-exertsa downward pull upon link 5'1 .:The'downward movement of link 51 through the'medium of lever 17 and plunger "50 elevates 'arm35 to a position where it is caught by the lower hooked end 46 of triiWPk- This movement of arm 35 causes the finger 39 to be moved out of the path "of shoulder 42 and at the same time causes the-belt shifter 33 to slide the belt 32 onto the fast pulley 30. Motion is then transmitteddirectly to shaft 27 and through the medium'of' the-several mechanisms above 'desc'ribed, shaft 63 is rocked and cylinder 19 oscillated. lhis oscillating movement of 'the' c'ylinde'r lQ-isinterm'ittent. In other words, it is oscillated in one direction and remains stationary for a pre-determined length of time and then is oscillated in the other direction and remain stationary for a pre-determined lengthof time. This movement is controlled by the shape of cam groove 82 in disk 83, and causes the button to be shifted to present first one hole of the button to the needle and thread, and then the other. The looper 23 'is continuously revolving so that the thread as it is carried through the opening 120 is'caught by the.

I hooked end 118 and looped; The cam 119 moves the looped end out of the pathof the needle and-the upward movement of the and:causing it to release arm 35. Arm 35 then falls with its finger 39 upon the periphcry of crank disk 40. lVhenvthe. shoulder 42 or rather the spring 43 in said shoulder comes in contact with the finger39,- the machine willbe stopped, the spring serving to cushion the contact. Theoperator then exerts a downward pull on link 106, ;,'l-h is movement of llIllLlOGgGttllSQS the rod lQ l to be drawn downwardlyQafArm 103; strikes the shorter, end of bar 8'1 ,and arm J ll sengages l'cra-nk arm-1112,, causing.,thef thread breaker 115 to I movetransverselyg through the cylinder 19.-; ='These1parts are-so arranged that a as ethe grooved-1 end. o inther threa breaker .115 engages thethread the ,bfar SZis moved on its fulcrum to elevate the-javpsd].

.This causes the thread to be drawn, taut, so

that the transverse .move1 nent. pi the th read brcakeracross-the taut thread, cleanly breaks the thread. At; the :same time, the downward movement ofrod 104;, by reason of the fact that its inverted U-shaped .upper; end 107 extends over the thread between the,nee

dle bar 11 and the friction pulley L6,;causes a slack in the thread sufiicient to, allow the i goods to be moved and draw apart of the thread through the eye of the needle. This is.'just sufficient to prevent drawing the thread entirely out of the needle and allowing a sufiicient end to begin the operation.

of sewing the next button. It willthus be seen that by reason of the tripping mechanism above described, each button willreceive the exact same number of stitches and the number of stitches is controlled by the position of the fingers 52 on' worm, wheel a 53. These positions may be: variedin accordance with the work to be. done. H

Various slight changes might be made. in the general form and arrangement of parts 7 described Without departing from vmyinvention, and hence I donot limit myself tothe precise details set forth, but consider myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall withinthe spirit.

trolled operating means for moving said 1 and scope of the appended claimsn Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A thread breaker for sewing machines comprising button holding and elevating means, a looper below the button holding means, ia .needle adapted to be moved through the button in the holder, and posi tion the thread for engagement by the looper,:means for elevating the button holding means'to raise the button and draw the thread taut. between the, button and the looper, an arm movable against the taut thread between the-button-and the looper to break the thread, said arm movable by the same means which elevates the button holding means, substantially as described.

- 2. A t-bread breaker for sewing machines comprising button holding and elevating :means, a ,looper below thebutton holding means, a needle adapted to be moved through the button in the holder, and posi- .tionthe. thread for engagement by the looper, means for elevating the button holding means to raise the button and draw the .thread tautbetween the button and the looper,, an arm movable against the taut threadbetween the button and the looper to ..hrea1t\tl1e thread, said arm movable by the ;s a1 ne means ,whichelevates the button holding means, and saidarm having a thread re- 1ceivii1ggroovein its free end, substantially a-fisnd i fl (j-F.

1'; 51, 3. A,thread1bieaker,for sewing machines, comprising gbutton holding and elevating means a looper,.below the button holding me'ans,; a needle .adapted to be moved jthrough the button in the holder, and posi- ,,tion ,the :thread for engagement by the j looper, means for elevatingthe button holdi ngvmeans to raise the button anddraw the thread jtauttbetween the button and the looper, an arm movable against the taut thread between the button and the looper to break the thread, said arm movable by the same means which elevates the button hold- -ing means, and manually controlled operating means for moving said arm, substantially as described.v

4. A thread breaker for sewing machines comprising button holding and elevating means, looper @below :the button holding .mjeans, a.,. needle adapted to be moved ,..th rough .the,button in the holder, and positionthe thread for engagement by the looper,,means torelevating the button holding means to raise the button and draw the thread taut. between the button and the looper, an arm movable against the taut ,thread between, the button and the looper to break the thread, said armmovable by the same means which elevates the button holding means, said arm having a thread receiving groove in its free end, and manually con- .and elevating means, and a looper below the button holding means, of aneedle adapted to reciprocate; through thevbutton and position a thread, so that it is engaged and held by the looper, means for elevating the button holding means and button in a direction to draw the thread taut between the button and the looper, a rotary shaft, and a curved arm connected at one end to the 5 shaft and at its free end adapted to engage the thread between the button and the looper and break the thread when said shaft is revolved, substantially as described.

6. In a thread breaker for sewing mabutton and the looper, a thread breaker having a notched end to receive the thread, and means for simultaneously elevating the button holding means and moving the thread breaker across the thread to break the same between the button and the looper, substantially as described.

7. In a thread breaker for sewing machines, the combination of a rotary looper, vertically movable button holding and elevating means above the rotary looper, means for elevating the button holding means and button to draw the thread taut between the button and the looper, a thread breaker comprising a curved arm having a notched end to receive the thread, means for simultaneously elevating the button holding means and moving the thread breaker across the thread to break the same between the button and the looper, substantially as described.

8. A device of the class described comprising an oscillating casing, a looper arranged within said casing, a button holding and elevating device mounted on said casing, a

needle arranged to be projected through a button in said holding device and bring a thread into operative relation with said looper, means for operating said button holding means to elevate the button and draw the thread taut between the button and the looper and a thread severing device adapted to engage and sever the thread when taut and means for operating said thread severing device, substantially as de- 60 scribed.

9. In a device of the class described, an

oscillating casing, a looper arranged therein, the walls of said casing being slotted adjacent said looper, button holding and elevating means, a needle for projecting a thread through the button and into operative relation with said looper, means for raising the button holding means and button to draw the thread taut between the button and the looper, a thread severing device adjacent said casing and means for projecting said severing device through the slots in said casing to engage and sever the thread while taut, substantially as described.

10. In a device of he class described, an

oscillating casing, a looper therein, a button holding and elevating device mounted on said casing, a thread severing device also mounted on said casing, said casing being slotted to permit said severing device to be projected thereinto, and means for simultaneously raising said button holding device and button to draw the thread taut between the button and the looper and for projecting said severing means against the thread when taut, substantially as described.

11. In a device of the class described, an oscillating casing, a looper therein, a bar pivotally mounted on said casing, button holding and elevating jawson said bar, a needle for projecting a thread through said button into operative relation with said looper, a thread severing device pivotally mounted on said oscillating casing, an arm fixed to said thread severing device, a reciprocating member mounted adj accnt said casing, means on said reciprocating member for engaging said bar to elevate the button and draw the thread taut between the same and the looper and means on said reciprocating member for engaging the arm on said severing device to project the latter against the thread when taut, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDWARD F. BURKE.

\Vitnesses S. W. Fos'rnn, C. R. ZnIcLER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C." 

